Government Policies & Interventions

Small Finance Banks (SFBs)

31-10-2025

Source: BS

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has returned Jana Small Finance Bank’s (SFB) application for transition into a universal bank, citing non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria outlined under its 2024 guidelines for SFBs.

What is a Small Finance Bank?

• About: SFBs are private institutions created to enhance financial inclusion in India. They offer basic banking facilities, including deposits and credit, to unserved and underserved groups like small farmers, micro industries, and informal sector enterprises.
• Origin: Announced in Union Budget 2014–15 to boost financial inclusion, the idea stems from the 2009 Raghuram Rajan Committee’s A Hundred Small Steps report.
• Eligibility Criteria: Resident individuals/professionals with 10 years of experience in banking and finance.
  • NBFCs, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), and Local Area Banks (LABs) owned and controlled by residents can convert into SFBs.
  • Only resident-controlled entities can promote SFBs.
• Capital Requirements: For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks transiting into SFBs, initial requirement of net worth shall be ₹100 crore, which will have to be increased to ₹200 crore.
  • Minimum paid-up voting equity capital / net worth requirement shall be ₹200 crore.
  • Promoter’s initial contribution: 40%, to be reduced to 26% within 12 years.
  • Foreign investment permitted as in other private sector banks.
• Regulatory and Prudential Norms: SFBs are full-fledged banks, unlike Payments Banks, and follow RBI’s prudential norms such as CRR and SLR maintenance.
  • Regulated under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and supervised by the RBI.
• Operational Mandates: Must allocate 75% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to Priority Sector Lending (PSL).
  • At least 50% of loans should be of value up to Rs 25 lakh.
  • No geographical restrictions, but 25% of branches must be in unbanked rural centres.
  • Preference to banks setting up in under-banked states/districts.
• Permissible Activities: It can distribute mutual fund units, insurance, and pension products with RBI and sectoral regulator approval.
  • May become a Category II Authorised Dealer in foreign exchange.
  • Cannot establish subsidiaries for non-banking financial activities.

Supreme Court Stays UGC's 2026 Regulations

31-01-2026

Source: TH 

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim stay on the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, citing concerns of potential division of society and undermining campus unity. 

• Judicial Intervention: Since the 2012 Regulations had been repealed, the Court, exercising its powers under Article 142, directed that the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012 would continue to apply until further orders. 
• Background & Context: The 2026 Regulations were formulated in response to the ongoing case Abeda Salim Tadvi v. Union of India (2019), which seeks to establish a mechanism to end caste-based discrimination on campuses. 
• Key Legal & Definitional Challenges to 2026 Regulations: The petitions specifically challenged Section 3(1)(c), which exclusively defines discrimination against SC, ST, and OBC members, thereby excluding the general category.  
  • The bench questioned the necessity of this narrow provision, as Section 3(1)(e) already provides a broader, inclusive definition of discrimination based on religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, or disability. 
  • The SC raised questions on whether the UGC 2026 Regulations adequately cover harassment on regional lines, intra-caste harassment by economically privileged individuals, and incidents of ragging. Moreover, the Regulations contain no mechanism to penalize false complaints.  
• Core Judicial Concerns: The SC invoked the "principle of no-regression" from environmental and social justice law, questioning why the 2026 rules were less inclusive than the 2012 version.  
  • The bench examined the regulation through the lens of Article 15(4) that enables the State to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, including SCs and STs.

Indi and Puliyankudi Limes

30-10-2025

Source: PIB

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi Lime (Karnataka) and Puliyankudi Lime (Tamil Nadu) to the United Kingdom.

• This shipment marks a key step in APEDA’s push to boost global recognition of India’s GI-tagged produce, benefiting farmers and strengthening market linkages.

Indi Lime (Vijayapura)

• About: The Indi Lime is the 2nd lime variety after the Assam Lime to receive the prestigious GI recognition. It got the GI tag in 2023.
• Production Hub: Grown mainly in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, it is prized for its quality, zesty aroma, high juice yield, and culinary and medicinal value, reflecting the region’s agricultural heritage.
  • Vijayapura district contributes nearly 58% of Karnataka’s total lime production. Karnataka itself ranks 4th among Indian states in lime cultivation.          

Puliyankudi Lime

• About: Puliyankudi Lime (from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu), also called Kadayam variety, features thin peel, strong acidity, and high vitamin C content with about 55% juice yield.
• GI Tag: The Puliyankudi Lime received its GI tag in April 2025, recognizing its distinct nutritional and regional attributes.

World Food India 2025

30-09-2025

Source: PIB

Why in News?

World Food India 2025, India’s flagship food processing event, aims to position India as a ‘Global Food Hub’. The event concluded with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, highlighting investments, innovations, and employment generation across multiple states.

What is the Landscape of the Food Processing Sector in India?

• Food Processing: It involves methods to transform raw agricultural, animal, or fish products into edible, commercially valuable finished or semi-finished products, altering their original physical properties.
• Levels of Processing:
  • Primary processing: Basic cleaning, grading, and packaging of agricultural products.
  • Secondary processing: Converting ingredients into edible products (e.g., milling wheat into flour).
  • Tertiary processing: Creating ready-to-eat foods (e.g., baking bread from flour).
• Growth of India’s Food Processing Industry:  India is largest producer of milk, onions and pulses, Second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, tea, fruits & vegetables and eggs. 
  • India’s agricultural and processed food exports reached USD 49.4 billion in 2024–25, with processed foods contributing 20.4% (up from 13.7% in 2014–15). The sector employs 2.23 million in registered units and 4.68 million in unregistered ones.
  • Registered food business operators rose from 25 lakh to 64 lakh, supported by 24 mega food parks. 
  • Operation Greens and 225 Research and Development projects added 20 patents and 52 commercialized technologies.
• India’s Initiatives:
  • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) aims to boost Indian brands internationally.
  • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Millet-based Products (PLISMBP)  encourages Ready-to-Eat (RTE) and Ready-to-Cook (RTC) millet products, promoting value addition and millet consumption.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) creates modern infrastructure, efficient supply chains, and reduces post-harvest losses.
  • PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME)  supports micro food processing units with technical, financial, and business assistance.
  • Under the Make in India campaign, the government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)  in food processing.
  • The Mega Food Park Scheme provides integrated infrastructure for food processing, offering up to Rs 50 crore per project.

What are the Opportunities and Challenges in the Food Processing Sector in India?

What Measures can Strengthen India’s Food Processing Sector?

• Cluster Development: Set up integrated food processing zones near farm hubs with shared infrastructure (cold storage, labs, effluent plants), ancillary industries (packaging, logistics), and seamless transport links to cut costs and boost rural–urban balance.
• Tech-Driven Supply Chain: Use blockchain for traceability, IoT for real-time monitoring, AI for demand forecasting, and drones/satellite imaging for crop assessment to cut wastage and improve efficiency.
• Financial Reforms: Create sector-specific credit schemes aligned with crop cycles, a credit guarantee fund for SMEs, and tax incentives to attract private equity and venture capital in food-tech.
• Quality Standards: Harmonize Indian norms with global benchmarks (Codex), introduce tiered certifications with market benefits, deploy mobile testing labs, and link quality-based pricing to National Agriculture Market (eNAM).
• Regulatory Simplification: Establish a single-window clearance and unified digital platform  to cut delays and reduce compliance costs.
• Export Ecosystem: Develop export-specific zones with plug-and-play facilities, country-focused strategies, and a real-time market intelligence system; fully utilize PLISFPI funds to attract global majors.
• R&D Boost: Set up Food Innovation Labs, give weighted tax breaks for R&D, and build a national database of traditional food processing techniques for scaling up.

Crowd Management in India

30-09-2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?

A campaign rally for a Tamil actor-turned-politician in Karur, Tamil Nadu turned tragic, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

What is a Stampede?

• About: A stampede is a sudden, uncontrolled rush of people or animals, usually triggered by panic, fear, or excitement, occurring in crowded areas and often causing chaos and casualties.
• Stampede Incidence: The NCRB report ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ states that from 2000 to 2022, 3,074 lives were lost in stampedes, with nearly 4,000 stampede incidents recorded over the past three decades.
• Cause of Death: A major cause of stampede deaths is the “black hole effect.” In dense crowds, physical forces create unpredictable "force chains" between bodies, so if one person falls, it creates a void, causing others to lose balance and fall. 
  • This domino effect leads to a pile-up, where people suffer compressive asphyxia under the weight of others.
  • During a stampede, crushing pressure on the chest prevents proper lung movement, causing hypoxia (low oxygen) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide), both life-threatening.

What are the Key Causes and Impact of Stampedes in India?

What are the Key Recommendations of NDMA for Crowd Management?

• Pre-Event Planning: Crowd estimation and capacity planning, safe site selection and layout design, and clear route planning with unobstructed entry, exit, and movement paths are essential to prevent stampedes.
• Structural Safety: Install barriers and railings in zig-zag queues, provide for virtual queue and approximate waiting time, ensure safe entry and exit points with outward-opening wide exits, and maintain effective communication systems and mobile connectivity to manage crowds.
• On-Ground Management: Implement crowd control and segregation with barricades, manage traffic and parking safely, use real-time crowd monitoring with CCTV and analytics.
• Building Awareness: Promote public awareness of risks and safe behavior, conduct training and drills for all agencies, and provide clear detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for event management stakeholders.
• Emergency Response: Provide on-site medical aid, deploy Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) for emergencies, and establish a clear Incident Command System for swift decision-making.

How can Stampedes be Prevented in India?

• ICT Based Management: Use AI-powered density analytics with CCTV, drone-based aerial surveillance, and mobile network & Wi-Fi heat mapping to monitor crowd size, flow, and bottlenecks in real-time for pre-emptive intervention.
• Managing Human Behavior: Use visual and sound cues to calm crowds, train staff in crowd whispering to reduce tension, and provide safe spaces and pressure-release paths for emergencies.
• Build a Culture of Safety: Launch public safe crowding campaigns with influential figures, enforce mandatory organizer certification on crowd management, and use crowd-sourced monitoring via hashtags or apps to report overcrowding.
• Strengthen Accountability Framework: Enact a Crowd Safety Act defining organizer liability, require independent safety auditors for large events, and implement a national stampede database to learn from past incidents.

Conclusion

Stampedes in India are caused by a mix of triggers, systemic failures, behavioral factors, and poor infrastructure, resulting in high human, social, and economic costs. Effective prevention requires NDMA-compliant planning, crowd management, technology use, public awareness, and accountability frameworks to safeguard lives and ensure safer mass gatherings.

Provincial Citizenship

30-09-2025

Source: TH

Why in News? 

The term “provincial citizenship” is gaining traction in academic and policy debates, especially in light of domicile policies in States like Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and Assam.

Its ascendancy signals a shift toward more exclusionary, nativist politics that may contest the constitutional ideal of a singular, equal Indian citizenship.

What is Provincial Citizenship?

• About: Provincial Citizenship is an unofficial, politically constructed notion of belonging to a specific Indian state. It emerges from nativist politics, tied to the idea of being “native,” “indigenous,” “local,” or “son of the soil.”
  • It is not part of the Constitution, but is used in politics to give special rights to "locals". This challenges the constitutional guarantee of a singular Indian citizenship under Articles 5–11.
• Reasons Behind Rise in Provincial Citizenship Demand:
  • Economic Competition: Locals fear that migrants take away jobs and access to resources.  Provincial Citizenship  offers recognition to historically excluded communities and counters demographic pressure from large-scale migration.
  • Cultural Anxiety: Migration brings perceived threats to language, tradition, and cultural homogeneity.
    • Provincial Citizenship aims to safeguard the culture, and land of indigenous groups.
  • Political Vacuum: There is no central law to regulate State-level domicile rules or to ensure uniformity in domicile policies across States.
• Judicial and Policy Safeguards:
  • Supreme Court Interventions: 
    • In Sunanda Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1995), the court struck down 100% reservation for domiciles in postgraduate medical courses, emphasizing that reservations should not compromise merit and efficiency. 
    • In Dr. Pradeep Jain v. Union of India (1984), the SC ruled that reservations based on place of birth or residence are prima facie unconstitutional under Article 16(2).
  • States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) (1955): Noted that domicile exclusions erode national unity. 
    • The constitutional framework currently sees citizenship as singular and national, regulated by the Citizenship Act, with non‑discrimination and mobility guarantees in fundamental rights.

What are the Concerns Associated with Provincial Citizenship in India?

• Fragmentation of Citizenship: Undermines the idea of one equal Indian citizenship by creating layered identities.
• Constitutional Tensions: As noted by SRC, 1955, domicile-based rules restrict jobs, education, and welfare, conflicting with Articles 14 (equality), 15 (no discrimination), 16 (equal opportunity in public employment), and 19 (freedom of movement and residence).
• Exclusion of Migrants: Internal migrants struggle to access jobs, housing, education, and welfare in host States. 
• Rise of Nativist Politics: Encourages “sons of the soil” movements, outsider hostility, and regionalism.
• Judicial Burden: Courts face a flood of litigation over domicile and reservation policies, further burdening the already overburdened judiciary.
• Economic Slowdown: Restricting migrant labour reduces workforce mobility, affecting productivity and urban economies.

What Reforms are Needed to Balance State Autonomy with National Citizenship?

• Parliamentary Legislation on Domicile: SRC 1955 recommended that domicile rules should be replaced by appropriate Parliamentary legislation. This ensures States to not override fundamental rights or restrict core national citizenship entitlements.
• Strengthen Migrant Protections: Expand portability of welfare benefits beyond food (One Nation One Ration Card) to healthcare, education, housing, and employment.
  • Ensure internal migrants enjoy equal rights irrespective of their State of residence through initiatives like e-Shram portal which enables social security for unorganised workers.
• Balanced Federalism: Allow States limited scope for residence-based benefits and prevent States from denying core rights under Articles 14, 15, 16, and 19.
• Election Commission Oversight: Regulate “sons of the soil” electoral campaigns to prevent xenophobic politics. Integrate inclusive safeguards into party recognition and funding rules.
• Public Awareness & Inclusion: Launch campaigns highlighting migrants’ contribution to urban economies.Counter xenophobia and promote social integration.

Conclusion

Provincial citizenship may serve local insecurities but risks fragmenting India’s unity, equality, and fraternity. Guided by the Constitution and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), India must reaffirm the principle of one nation, one citizenship, protecting diversity while ensuring inclusivity for all citizens, regardless of where they come from.

SC Calls for Regulating Social Media

30-08-2025

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Supreme Court (SC), while hearing a case against comedians for derogatory remarks, observed that social media influencers commercialise free speech, cautioning that such content can harm the dignity of vulnerable groups and urging the government to frame effective guidelines to balance free speech with societal sensitivities.

What are the Key Regulations Governing Social Media Usage in India?

Key Legislations:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 is the principal legislation governing electronic communication and social media.
  • Section 79(1) provides “safe harbour” protection to intermediaries (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram) against liability for third-party content, provided they act as neutral platforms and do not control or modify content.
  • Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 allows the Government to block online content for protecting sovereignty, security, defense, foreign relations, public order, and preventing incitement to offences.
• Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 mandates social-media platforms to ensure user safety, removal of unlawful content, and awareness on issues such as privacy, copyright, defamation, and national security.
  • The 2023 Amendment to these rules obligated intermediaries to take down false or misleading content related to the Government of India. However, its enforcement has been stayed by the Supreme Court (SC), citing concerns of misuse.

Key Judicial Pronouncements:

• In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), SC struck down Section 66A  of the IT Act, 2000 for vagueness, reaffirming that criticism, satire, and dissent are protected under Article 19(1)(a), unless falling within reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2).
  • Section 66A criminalized sending offensive, false, or objectionable information via computers or electronic devices, prescribing up to 3 years’ imprisonment.
• In K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), SC recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. 
  • It shaped later data protection measures, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and influenced regulation of WhatsApp privacy policies and Aadhaar data norms.

Why is there a Need for Regulating Social Media?

• Protection of Vulnerable Groups Unregulated platforms enable derogatory content, cyberbullying, trolling, and exploitation, particularly of women, children, senior citizens, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
• Curbing Misinformation & Hate Speech: The rapid spread of fake news, deepfakes, hate campaigns, and extremist propaganda undermines social harmony, democratic discourse, and national security. 
  • Effective regulation can check disinformation ecosystems and maintain public order.
• Safeguarding Mental Health & Ethical Values: Features like endless scrolling, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and curated identities drive addiction, anxiety, and depression among youth. 
  • Regulations can promote digital well-being, responsible design, and ethical communication standards.
• Ensuring Accountability of Influencers: With the rise of influencer marketing, users are misled into financial risks by undisclosed paid promotions and illegitimate products (e.g., betting apps). Regulation ensures transparency, disclosure norms, and consumer protection.
• Data Privacy & Security: Social media platforms collect vast user data, often without informed consent, leading to privacy violations, surveillance, and misuse for profit or political influence. Regulation is essential to uphold constitutional rights to privacy under Article 21.
• Balancing Free Speech with Responsibility: While Article 19(1)(a) protects free speech, it is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) (public order, morality, decency, security of the State). Regulation helps draw the line between legitimate free expression and harmful/derogatory content.

What are the Key Challenges in Regulating Social Media in India?

• Volume & Anonymity: The sheer volume of online content makes continuous monitoring difficult. Added to this, anonymity of users emboldens hate speech, misinformation, and harmful content, straining regulatory capacity.
• Transparency & Accountability Gaps: Social media platforms lack transparency in decision-making and accountability in content moderation policies. The absence of independent oversight raises concerns about opaque practices and arbitrariness.
• Defining Harmful Content: There is subjectivity in defining harmful content, as differing social, political, and cultural views complicate consensus. This ambiguity creates grey zones between legitimate expression and prohibited speech.
• Free Speech vs. Censorship: Any attempt to regulate risks being seen as censorship or a curtailment of free speech, especially when criteria are not clear, objective, and proportionate.
• Cross-Border Jurisdictional Issues: A large share of harmful content originates from outside India’s jurisdiction, making enforcement and regulation difficult under domestic law.
• Political Neutrality Concerns: Content moderation decisions are often accused of political bias, raising questions about platform neutrality and undermining trust in regulatory mechanisms.

What Measures Can be Taken to Improve the Credibility and Utility of Social Media in India?

• Robust Legal-Policy Framework: Update the IT Act, 2000 through the Digital India Act, ensuring platform accountability, data protection, and freedom of expression, backed by judicial oversight to avoid overreach.
• Algorithmic Transparency & Accountability: Mandate algorithm audits, transparency reports, and independent oversight bodies; encourage the use of AI-driven moderation tools to ensure neutrality and quick redressal.
• Technological & Institutional Capacity: Expand cyber forensic labs, enhance agency capacity, and integrate AI-enabled monitoring systems while safeguarding privacy and encryption standards.
• Digital Literacy & Ethical Usage:  Launch nationwide digital literacy campaigns against misinformation, deepfakes, and cyberbullying; promote responsible online behavior and ethical design practices prioritizing user well-being.
• Global & Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation: Strengthen international collaboration on cross-border regulation and involve civil society, academia, and industry to create an inclusive, future-ready digital ecosystem.

Conclusion

Regulating social media is essential to balance freedom of expression with the dignity and rights of vulnerable groups. A combination of robust legal frameworks, technological solutions, digital literacy, and ethical practices can ensure accountability, curb misinformation, and foster a safe, inclusive, and credible online ecosystem.

Civil Society Organizations in India

30-08-2025

Source:TH

Why in News? 

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have once again come into focus for its role in mobilising communities, protecting rights, and filling gaps in governance. Beyond the state and markets, it drives collective action, ensures citizen participation, and strengthens democracy in India.

What is a Civil Society Organization?

• About: CSO society refers to non-state, non-profit entities that unite people voluntarily to work collectively toward shared social, cultural, or ethical goals.

• Evolution of CSOs in India: 
  • Ancient–Medieval Roots: Civil society in India has deep roots in the ideas of dharma (duty), daan (giving), and karma, which encouraged service to others through religious and social movements.
  • Pre-Independence Era: Reformers challenged caste discrimination, untouchability, and other social evils, linking voluntary action to social reform.
    • Brahmo Samaj (1828) (promoted social and religious reform),  Theosophical Society (1879) (spread spiritual and educational reform), and Ramakrishna Mission (1897) (emphasized service to humanity).
    • Efforts were often unorganized and relief-based, but they laid a moral foundation for later mobilization.
    • Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance, upliftment of the poor, and constructive work inspired mass participation and voluntary service organizations.
  • Post-Independence: The new Indian state expanded welfare but recognized the supporting role of voluntary organizations.
    • First Five-Year Plan (1951–56) emphasized cooperation between government and NGOs.
    • Decentralization through the three-tier Panchayati Raj system gave space for cooperatives, farmer unions, and local associations to flourish.
    • During the 1965–67 droughts, many international NGOs entered India with foreign aid and later set up permanent offices, reshaping civil society funding.
  • Contemporary Era: Civil society shifted from welfare delivery to a rights- and empowerment-based approach seen in movements like Chipko (1973) and Narmada Bachao (1985). 
    • Civil society broadened its agenda to include rights to food, work (MGNREGA), education (RTE Act), health, and information (RTI Act).
    • CSOs recognized as development partners of the state.NGOs expanded into gender, caste, environment, and marginalized issues, becoming key watchdogs of democracy. 
    • India with around  3.3 million NGOs Today, India has around 1.5 million NGOs involving over 19 million volunteers and staff, though most remain small and volunteer-driven.

What is the Role of Civil Society in a  Democracy?

• Ensuring Accountability: CSOs act as a watchdog, scrutinizing state actions and checking political abuses and corruption.
  • The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Rajasthan, was instrumental in the passage of the national Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005.
  • CSOs play a crucial role in monitoring elections, detecting fraud, and affirming legitimacy.
• Empowering Citizens and Promoting Democratic Norms: Educates citizens about laws, rights, and governance, sustaining an informed citizenry.
  • Fosters tolerance, respect for dissent, and compromise, promoting democratic social norms.
  • Provides platforms for marginalized groups (women, poor, persons with disabilities) to participate in governance, as seen in the role of CSOs advocating for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• Women Empowerment: Organizations like Jagori and Swayam have raised awareness about women’s rights and promoted political participation. 
  • The Institute of Social Sciences' "Women’s Political Empowerment Program" has trained over 15,000 women for leadership roles in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
  • PRIDE India has supported advocacy for women's rights through research and data collection. 
  • SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) empowers women in the informal sector, helping them gain economic independence and social status.
• Leadership Development and Representation: Facilitates articulation and aggregation of diverse societal interests. 
  • CSOs act as a training ground for future political leaders, breaking traditional party monopolies.
  • CSOs act as a shock-absorbing institution by cross-cutting rigid political polarities. Helps maintain social cohesion in conflict-prone settings.
• Supporting Reforms and Public Service Delivery: Mobilizes public opinion for economic and political reforms.
  • CSOs fill gaps in essential services like healthcare, education, sanitation, and disaster relief (e.g., During the Covid-19 pandemic, Goonj launched the 'Rahat' initiative to support vulnerable communities).
• Global Governance: Civil society not only promotes national democracy but also influences global governance.
  • International norms on human rights, women’s rights, disability rights, and environmental concerns are leveraged to shape domestic policies.
    

What are the Challenges of Civil Society in a Democracy?

• Undermining Democratic Values: Not all CSOs pursue democratic purposes, some promote private interests, racism, nationalism, or fundamentalism, undermining democratic values.
• Funding Constraints CSOs face financial instability due to limited foreign funding (post-FCRA 2020 amendment) and inadequate domestic philanthropy.
  • State funding can corrupt CSOs, diverting focus from democratic objectives to short-term gains.
  • Additionally, many CSOs lack effective monitoring systems, making it difficult to assess their impact and attract funding.
• Inadequate Government Response: Government agencies may be ill-equipped to handle CSO inputs, resulting in friction, ineffective policymaking, and undermined democratic engagement.
• Inadequate Representation: Lack of equal access for marginalized groups in civil society can perpetuate structural inequalities and undermine democratic inclusivity.
• Cultural Insensitivity: Global civil society efforts may overlook local cultural contexts, especially in the Global South, leading to ineffective or irrelevant interventions.
• Internal Undemocracy: Many CSOs lack internal democracy, such as transparency or inclusive decision-making, contradicting the democratic principles they advocate.
• External Manipulation: Civil society organizations may be influenced or used by foreign powers to advance political or economic agendas, distorting their role in promoting democracy.
• Volunteer Retention: High volunteer turnover and inconsistent engagement make it difficult to sustain long-term projects and community relationships.

What Measures can be Adopted to Enhance the Role of CSO?

• Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Develop a national CSO database including financial reports, program outcomes, and impact assessments. Standardized reporting and voluntary third-party audits can build credibility.
• Support Evidence-Based Policymaking: Institutionalize CSO involvement in policy through representation on government committees, consultation forums, and the use of CSO data in decision-making.
• Diversify Funding Sources: Encourage domestic philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships, and social impact investments to reduce dependency on foreign funds.
• Simplify Regulatory Framework: The government could simplify FCRA and streamline CSO registration and compliance through a single-window digital system,
• Boost Volunteerism: Launch national campaigns to promote volunteering, integrate community service into education, maintain volunteer databases, and use digital platforms to connect volunteers with CSOs.

Conclusion

Civil society remains the heartbeat of participatory democracy, bridging gaps between the state and citizens. Strengthening CSOs is not just about governance, it is about empowering society to shape its own future. A vibrant civil society is the true measure of a resilient democracy.

Samudrayaan Project

30-08-2025

Source: IE

Why in News? 

Two Indian aquanauts dived into the Atlantic Ocean aboard France’s submersible Nautile as part of preparations for the Samudrayaan Project.

What is the Samudrayaan Project?

• About: Samudrayaan is India’s first human deep-sea mission. It is a key component of the Deep Ocean Mission. 
  • The project aims to send three humans in a manned submersible (Matsya-6000) to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean by 2027.
  • It will strengthen India’s strategic position by joining the select group of countries (US, Russia, China, Japan, France) with manned deep-sea capability.
• Key Objectives: Develop technologies for deep-sea mining, submersibles, and ocean robotics. 

  • Conduct surveys for mineral deposits, especially polymetallic nodules (containing iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, rare earths).

• Matsya-6000: It is India's first self-propelled manned submersible. It is made of titanium-alloy in a spherical shape and can carry three aquanauts for 12 hours, with the capability to sustain them for up to 96 hours in emergencies.

  • It is expected to withstand an external pressure up to 600bar under low temperature conditions of -3°C.
  • It is equipped with life-support, acoustic communication, Li-Po batteries, drop-weight escape, and bio-vests for crew health monitoring.

  • The development of MATSYA 6000 is a collaboration between the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of ISRO.

One District One Product (ODOP)

30-01-2026

Source: PIB  

Why in News? 

The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative has recently been in the news for its nationwide expansion, highlighting its role in promoting district-level economic development and local entrepreneurship. 

What is One District One Product (ODOP)? 

• About: The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, implemented through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from Invest India. 
  • Inspired by Japan’s “One Village One Product” model, ODOP identifies, brands, and promotes one distinctive product from each district. As of 2025, it covers 1,102 products across 761 districts, including agriculture, handicrafts, textiles, and food items. 
• Objective: The scheme aims to transform local specialities into global brands by supporting artisans, farmers, and small enterprises, while preserving India’s cultural heritage and traditional skills. 
  • Launched in Uttar Pradesh in 2018, starting with Moradabad’s brassware, the initiative helped revive traditional crafts such as chikankari embroidery, pottery, carpets, leather goods and brassware. 
• Vision: ODOP aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and “Vocal for Local”, promoting sustainable production, innovation, and market access, with eco-friendly and traditionally crafted products positioned for international markets. 
• Product Selection and Coverage: Products are selected by States and Union Territories based on existing local ecosystems and communicated to DPIIT.  
  • Currently, over 1,200 ODOP products across sectors like textiles, food processing, handicrafts, and minerals are listed on the official digital portal. 
• Market Access and Digital Integration: ODOP products are linked to wider markets through platforms such as the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), ODOP Bazaar and state-level e-commerce portals, expanding sales and outreach. 
• Exports and Global Recognition: ODOP strengthens India’s export ecosystem through alignment with Make in India, Vocal for Local, and Districts as Export Hub, while showcasing Indian products at international trade exhibitions and global platforms. 

Tantya Mama and Bhil Tribe

30-01-2026

Source: IE 

Tantya Mama has been in the news after the Madhya Pradesh government announced plans to install a new metal statue of the revered tribal figure. 

Tatya Mama  

• About: He was a prominent tribal freedom fighter from the Bhil community, which constitutes about 40% of Madhya Pradesh's 1.53 crore tribal population (Tribals form 21% of MP's population, the highest in India). 
• Period of Resistance: Actively resisted British colonial rule between 1878 and 1889, in the backdrop of post-1857 Revolt, revenue oppression and exploitation of tribal communities. 
• Popular Image: Revered as the Indian Robin Hood for his actions of targeting wealthy landowners and British-aligned authorities, then redistributing resources to support the poor and oppressed tribal populations. He is affectionately called “Mama” (maternal uncle). 

Bhil Tribe 

• About: The Bhil are the largest tribal group in India (4.61 million, 37.7% of total ST population per 2011 Census), predominantly inhabiting across Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. 
• Religious Practices: Predominantly Hindu with animistic elements; worship serpent gods, and nature deities. Some groups follow Islam (e.g., Nirdhi, Tadvi Bhils, Maharashtra). 
• History of Colonial Resistance & Exploitation: Declared “Criminal Tribes” under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. Key revolts include: 
  • Bhagat Movement (1883) led by Govind Guru, culminating in the Mangarh massacre (1913,Adivasi Jallianwala). 
• Eki Andolan (1920) led by Motilal Tejawat. 
• Rich Cultural Heritage: Renowned for distinct art forms like Pithora paintings (MP) and Bhil art (dotted style), and festivals like Bhagoria (MP) and Gol Gadhedo (Gujarat). 

Amendments to New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019

30-01-2026

Source: PIB 

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified significant amendments to the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, aiming to simplify regulatory processes and accelerate pharmaceutical research under the Ease of Doing Business framework. 

• Waiver of Test Licence: The requirement to obtain a test licence from Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for non-commercial manufacture of small quantities of drugs for research, examination, or analysis has been replaced with a prior-intimation mechanism. 
  • The waiver does not apply to high-risk categories such as cytotoxic drugs, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances, which still require a licence. 
• Reduced Timelines: The reform is expected to save 90 days in the drug development cycle.  
  • For categories still requiring a licence, the statutory processing time has been halved from 90 days to 45 days. The reforms will optimise utilisation of existing CDSCO manpower and improve regulatory efficiency. 
• Ease for Clinical Studies: Prior permission for low-risk Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies has been removed, now studies can now commence via simple online intimation to CDSCO. 
• Digital Integration:  To ensure smooth implementation, dedicated online modules will be launched on the National Single Window System (NSWS) and the SUGAM portal (CDSCO e-governance platform), enabling transparent, paperless, and hassle-free submission of intimations. 
• Jan Vishwas Siddhant: These trust-based reforms align with the government's Jan Vishwas principles, aiming to make India a global hub for pharmaceutical R&D. 

Holy City Status and Sikh Heritage

29-12-2025

Source: IE

Why in News?

Punjab has officially declared Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo as holy cities due to their deep Sikh heritage, as each hosts one of the faith’s five Takhts. 

• This designation aims to develop these cities as key religious and cultural centers by enforcing a ban on the sale of liquor, tobacco, cigarettes, and meat within city limits to preserve their sanctity.

What is Sikhism?

• Core Tenets and Origins: Founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the 15th century in Punjab, Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that evolved through ten Gurus and was influenced by Bhakti and Sufi traditions.
  • It emphasizes devotion to one God, ethical living (Seva), and equality.
  • Sikhs form the Khalsa, established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, who adhere to a code of conduct and wear the Five Ks (Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera, Kirpan).
• Sacred Texts and Key Institutions: The primary scripture is the Guru Granth Sahib (written in Gurmukhi), considered the eternal Guru. The Dasam Granth is a supplementary text.
  • The Gurdwara is the Sikh place of worship and community service, open to all.
  • The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is the apex elected body managing major Gurdwaras.
  • The Khalsa Panth is the collective body of the Sikh community.
• Five Takhts (Seats of Authority): The 5 Takhts guide Sikh religious and temporal affairs.
  • Akal Takht (Amritsar, Punjab): The supreme seat, established by Guru Hargobind Singh in 1606, symbolizing the union of temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) authority.
  • Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib, Punjab): Site where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa.
  • Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Patna, Bihar): Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.
  • Takht Sachkhand Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra): Where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated.
  • Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo, Punjab): Where Guru Gobind Singh finalized the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Historical Reform Movement: The Gurdwara Reform (Akali) Movement (1920) sought to free Sikh shrines from corrupt mahants.
  • It led to the formation of the SGPC (1920) and the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, granting Sikhs legal control over their Gurdwaras.

Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment

29-12-2025

Source: TH

Why in News?

The persistent environmental crisis has reignited debates about constitutional provisions for environmental protection and the need for explicit recognition of the right to a clean and healthy environment.

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has recently amended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), making it mandatory to close schools under Phases 3 and 4, alongside phased office timings. 

What are the Persistent Environmental Crises in India?

• Severe Air Pollution: India’s severe air pollution, particularly in northern cities such as Delhi, consistently exceeds particulate matter limits and contributed to 2.1 million of the 8.1 million global air-pollution-related deaths in 2021. As per the World Air Quality Report 2024, 13 of the 20 most polluted cities worldwide are in India.
  • Health impacts range from respiratory infections, lung diseases, and asthma to cardiac and gastrointestinal issues.
• Water Scarcity: Despite initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), water scarcity is escalating, with per capita availability declining from 1,816 cubic meters in 2001 to 1,545 cubic meters in 2011 and projected to fall to 1,219 cubic meters by 2050. 
  • Central Ground Water Board assessments show elevated nitrate, fluoride, and arsenic levels in West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • This crisis is worsened by groundwater depletion in major cities, Himalayan glacial retreat, river pollution, and erratic monsoons, causing repeated floods and droughts. 
• Biodiversity and Habitat Loss: Deforestation driven by infrastructure, agriculture, and mining leads to habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and reduced carbon sequestration. India's biodiversity hotspots, like the Western Ghats, face severe threats, with IPCC projections warning of up to 33% biodiversity loss by 2050 due to climate change.
• Land Degradation and Soil Health Decline: Despite India being a party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), soil erosion, salinization, and fertility loss are rampant due to over-farming and chemical fertilizer overuse. 
  • Some 83.69 million ha (mha) underwent desertification in 2018-19. This was greater than the 81.48 mha in 2003-2005 and 82.64 mha in 2011-13. 
  • Soil Organic Carbon in intensively farmed areas is falling to 0.3% from historical levels of around 1%.
• Waste Management Crisis: India generates approximately 62 million tonnes of waste annually, including 7.9 MT of hazardous waste, 5.6 MT of plastic, 1.5 MT of e-waste, and 0.17 MT of biomedical waste. Despite a reported 95% collection rate, much of this waste is burned or poorly handled, resulting in landfill overflows and toxic leachate contaminating soil and water.

How has Environmental Jurisprudence Evolved in India?

• Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978): The SC gave its opinion that a clean environment shall be included in the meaning of life under Article 21.
• Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of UP (1985): The SC recognized, for the first time, the right to live in a healthy environment as part of Article 21 of the Constitution. 
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1986): The SC held that the right to live in a pollution-free environment is part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991): The SC combined Articles 48A and 51A(g) with Article 21, ruling that the state must protect and improve the environment so that every citizen can enjoy pollution-free air and water, essential for a meaningful life.
  • Article 48A: Obligation of the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
  • Article 51A(g): Obligation of Citizens to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
• M.C. Mehta versus Kamal Nath (1996): The SC defined the public trust doctrine as a social contract where the state acts as a trustee of natural resources owned by the people, and must manage them only for public benefit, not for private gain.
• M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India (2024): Recognised right against adverse effects of climate change under Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 14 (Right to Equality).
• Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum versus Union of India (1996): The SC explained the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle. 
  • The precautionary principle requires the state to take preventive action against serious environmental threats, promoting sustainable development over a choice between development and ecology. 
  • The polluter pays principle makes polluters financially responsible for managing their pollution, such as a factory safely disposing of toxic by-products.

What are the Challenges in Solving the Persistent Environmental Crises in India?

• Governance & Implementation Gaps: Strong environmental laws in India, like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, suffer from chronic weak enforcement, with industries often operating without a valid Consent to Operate and facing minimal punitive action.
• Developmental Pressures: Large infrastructure projects, such as highways in forested areas, often proceed with expedited clearances despite fragmenting wildlife corridors. Similarly, poverty drives unsustainable resource use like illegal sand mining, which persists as critical income despite causing severe ecological damage.
• Ecological & Technical Complexities: Trans-boundary crises like Indo-Gangetic air pollution require complex multi-state coordination. Meanwhile, rising extreme weather events such as Cyclone Biparjoy worsen coastal erosion, overwhelming local adaptation.
• Political & Behavioral Hurdles: Short-term development through populist subsidies discourage conservation and encourage resource over-extraction. Furthermore, low public acceptance of sustainable practices, like waste segregation, cripples urban waste management.

What Further Steps are Necessary to Strengthen Environmental Conservation in India?

• Strengthen Legal & Constitutional Framework: Amend the Constitution to make the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment a standalone Fundamental Right, imposing a non-derogable duty on the state. Legally codify the Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle, Public Trust Doctrine, and Intergenerational Equity for nationwide enforcement.
• Enhance Implementation & Governance: Establish a National Environmental Authority for cross-ministry coordination (Environment, Agriculture, Transport, Urban, Energy) to integrate efforts. Mandate real-time pollution data disclosure and use AI and satellite imagery (like ISRO's ENVIS) to automatically monitor deforestation, dumping, and river pollution.
• Systemic Shifts & Behavioural Change: Implement environmental outcome-based budgeting, tying funds to ecological targets like air quality and forest cover. Enforce climate-centric urban planning with mandatory green belts and net-zero building codes.
• Economic and Financial Mechanism: Implement a carbon tax on high-emission sectors while redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to renewables and scaling up sovereign green bonds. Mandate that 50% of CSR spending goes to environmental projects, tracked via a public CSR-Environment dashboard, and foster CSR-NGO partnerships for effective implementation.
• International Cooperation: Pursue favorable technology transfer agreements for clean technology, renewable energy, and pollution control equipment from developed nations. Actively secure the USD 300 billion annual climate finance commitment from developed countries under the UNFCCC.

Conclusion

Recurring environmental crises and sustained judicial activism highlight a serious implementation gap in India’s conservation framework. Establishing a constitutional right to a clean environment, alongside integrated governance, data-driven enforcement, and financial realignment, is essential to shift from reactive responses to systemic ecological sustainability.

Sujalam Bharat Summit 2025

29-11-2025

Source: PIB 

The Ministry of Jal Shakti will host the Vision for Sujalam Bharat Summit 2025 in New Delhi, marking a major national effort to create a unified and practical water security framework. 

• Origin: It was conceived in line with the Prime Minister's vision of organising Summits that bring together Central and State officers as well as junior cadres. 
• Objective: To accelerate water sustainability in India by promoting evidence-based policy making, sectoral reforms, and cooperative federalism in water governance. 
• Scope: Encompasses 6 critical thematic areas: 
  • Rejuvenation of Rivers and Springs: Wetland restoration, catchment protection, and community river stewardship. 
  • Greywater Management: Circular water use, pricing models, nature-based solutions, and septage treatment. 
  • Technology-driven Water Management: AI-based monitoring, micro-irrigation, leak detection, and precision agriculture. 
  • Water Conservation: Aquifer recharge, traditional water systems, and LiFE-aligned behavioural change. 
  • Sustainable Drinking Water Supply: Climate-resilient systems, source sustainability, and community-based operations and maintenance. 
  • Community Engagement: Empowering PRIs, SHGs, and local bodies for long-term sustainability of water assets. 
• National Priorities Identified: The Ministry consolidated inputs into five national priorities: source sustainability, groundwater recharge, modern & nature-based solutions, stronger community institutions, and inter-departmental convergence. 
• Significance: It adopts a whole-of-government approach, linking policymakers and implementers to turn strategy into effective action, propelling the nation faster towards the shared goal of a truly Sujalam and Sustainable Bharat.

India Plans to Allow Private Sector Participation in Nuclear Energy

29-11-2025

Source:BS

Why in News?

The Prime Minister of India announced that the country will soon open its civil nuclear power sector to private players, ahead of the Parliament’s winter session where the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 will be introduced to expand nuclear capacity and attract private investment.

How can the Private Sector Strengthen India’s Nuclear Power Programme?

• India’s Ambitious Capacity Expansion: India plans to scale nuclear capacity from 8.8 GW to 22 GW by 2032 and 100 GW by 2047, but the sector is still dominated by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL),  which lack the capital, manpower, and construction capacity needed to meet these ambitious targets. 
  • Private players can augment capital, skilled workforce, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) capabilities, making large-scale expansion feasible. 
• Bridging the Massive Financing Gap: Reaching 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 needs about Rs 15 lakh crore investment, but the 2025–26 Budget allocates only Rs 20,000 crore.  
  • Nuclear projects demand huge upfront costs, making limited public funds a major challenge and highlighting the need for private investment to mobilise long-term capital, reduce the fiscal burden, and diversify funding sources. 
• Accelerating Project Execution: Many NPCIL projects, such as Kudankulam Units 3–6, have faced chronic delays due to procurement issues, slow construction, and administrative hurdles.   
  • Private players can help speed up projects through better project management and stronger supply-chain efficiency. 
• Boosting Technology & Innovation: Private sector involvement can support the adoption of advanced reactor designs, small modular reactors (SMRs), and global collaborations, keys to scaling nuclear capacity and improving safety. 
• Strengthening Uranium Supply Chains: Allowing private firms to mine, import, and process uranium can upgrade India’s limited domestic capability, reduce dependence on Government-to-Government (G2G) deals, and build strategic reserves for long-term nuclear fuel security. 
• Enhancing India’s Energy Security & Net-Zero Pathway: Private participation helps accelerate low-carbon capacity growth, supporting India’s net-zero 2070 commitments. 
  • Private sector entry can deepen localisation of reactor components, boost domestic manufacturing, and integrate India into global nuclear supply chains. 

What are the Major Barriers to Private Sector Participation in India’s Nuclear Power Sector? 

• Nuclear Liability Concerns: Section 17(b) of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND), 2010 allows the operator a “Right of Recourse” against suppliers after a nuclear accident, unlike the CSC regime where liability rests solely with the operator. 
  • This potential supplier liability raises insurance costs and makes private participation financially risky. 
• Financing and Cost Challenges: According to the Central Electricity Authority,  the capital cost of a Pressurised Heavy Water (PHW) nuclear plant in India is expected to rise to around Rs 14 crore per megawatts (MW) by 2026–27.  
  • Despite its low-carbon profile, nuclear energy is not classified as “renewable,” making it ineligible for tax incentives and green financing, which further adds to its financial challenges. 
• Unclear Ownership & Revenue Model: Atomic Energy Act, 1962 has historically restricted private firms from co-owning or operating reactors or selling nuclear-generated electricity, creating major uncertainty about their role and deterring private participation in the sector. 
• Fuel Supply & Processing Restrictions: Domestic uranium reserves (approx 76,000 tonnes) can fuel around 10,000 MW for 30 years, but meet only 25% of future needs, making imports essential. 
  • Private players cannot mine, import or process uranium due to legal restrictions, limiting their ability to control a core project input.  
  • With India relying heavily on long-term uranium contracts from Kazakhstan, Canada and Uzbekistan, private firms face uncertainty in long-term fuel security if they enter the sector. 
• Regulatory & Security Constraints: Nuclear installations have strict security and inspection standards under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Private firms can face compliance burdens far higher than in power, coal, or renewables.

What Steps Can Enhance India’s Nuclear Power Sector? 

• Legislative Reforms: India needs to amend the Atomic Energy Act (1962) to permit private participation in nuclear power generation, and establish clear ownership models.  
  • Revise the CLNDA (2010) to limit supplier liability, and align with Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC, 1997) to enhance investor confidence.   
  • The government is preparing to introduce the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, which is a significant step in the right direction. 
• Develop a Clear PPP Model: Establish transparent frameworks for co-ownership, tariffs, risk-sharing, and long-term power purchase agreements to attract private investment. 
• Fuel Security: Strengthen fuel security by securing long-term uranium supplies from countries like Canada, Kazakhstan, and Australia, while accelerating R&D on thorium reactors such as BHAVINI’s PFBR.  
  • At the same time, build indigenous supply chains and develop nuclear industrial parks to localise critical technologies. 
• Speed Up Project Execution: Adopt Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) -based contracts, improve procurement systems, and involve private EPC firms to avoid delays seen in projects like Kudankulam.

Conclusion

Opening India’s nuclear sector to private players could transform its clean energy landscape, but success will depend on resolving liability issues, clarifying ownership structures, and strengthening the regulatory framework. The Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 marks a major step, but the sector’s future will hinge on how well the policy balances safety, investment, and long-term energy security. 

Tewary Commission Report on Nellie Massacre

29-11-2025

Source: IE

The 1983 Nellie Massacre, during the Assam Agitation (1979–1985), has returned to public focus after the Assam government released the Tewary Commission Report, shedding new light on the tragedy. 

• The commission found that the tragedy was avoidable, but delayed action, ignored intelligence, and poor coordination allowed the violence to spiral out of control.

Assam Agitation (Assam Movement)

• About: The Assam Agitation, driven by fears of losing indigenous Assamese cultural, linguistic, and political identity, focused on identifying and expelling illegal immigrants, mainly from Bangladesh. 
  • It was led by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and focused on the Three Ds: detecting immigrants who arrived after 1951, deleting their names from voter rolls, and deporting them from India. 
• Outcome: The unrest eventually led to the Assam Accord of 1985, signed by the Centre, the state government, and movement leaders. The key clauses of the Assam Accord were: 
  • It officially set 25th March, 1971, as the cut-off date for detecting illegal foreigners. 
  • Anyone who entered Assam between 1st January, 1966, and 24th March, 1971, would be detected as a foreigner and would have their name deleted from the voter list for 10 years, after which their citizenship rights would be restored. 
  • Anyone who entered on or after 25th March, 1971, would be detected and deported.

Tech-Driven Multilingual Inclusion in India

29-10-2025

Source: PIB

Why in News? 

India is advancing toward digital multilingual inclusion by leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and machine learning.

• Platforms like Bhashini, BharatGen, and Adi-Vaani are being used to preserve, digitize, and promote the use of 22 Scheduled Languages and hundreds of tribal and regional dialects across India’s vast geography in governance, education, and communication.

How is India Integrating Technology with Language Preservation and Digital Inclusion?

• Bhashini: Implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
  • It provides real-time Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven translation, speech recognition, and language understanding services.
  • Supports 22 Scheduled Languages and several tribal languages, enabling multilingual access in governance, education, and digital communication.

• Sanchika: Managed by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
  • Sanchika serves as a digital archive of dictionaries, primers, storybooks, and audiovisual content in Indian languages.
• BharatGen: It is a multilingual AI model suite for Indian languages developed under MeitY.
  • Creates Text-to-Text (T2T) and Text-to-Speech (TTS) translation systems.
  • It uses datasets from the Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL) and Sanchika Digital Repository.
• Adi-Vaani: Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). It is  India’s first AI-driven platform for tribal language translation and preservation.
  • It supports Santali, Bhili, Mundari, Gondi, and other tribal languages through Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Speech Recognition.
• GeMAI (Government e-Marketplace AI Assistant): Developed under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as part of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
  • Provides voice and text-based support in multiple Indian languages.
  • Assists small vendors and local entrepreneurs to navigate and transact in their native languages.
• Anuvadini: Created by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
  • Uses AI-based translation to convert engineering, law, and medical textbooks into Indian languages.
  • It supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision of learning in the mother tongue.
• e-KUMBH (Knowledge Unleashed in Multiple Bharatiya Languages): An AICTE-hosted digital platform offering free access to technical and higher education books in Indian languages.
• SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds): A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
  • SWAYAM provides multilingual online courses to more than five crore learners across India. It strengthens linguistic inclusivity in digital higher education.

What are the National and Institutional Initiatives Supporting Language Preservation and Digital Inclusion?

• SPPEL (Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages): Launched in 2013 by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and implemented by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru.
  • Documents and digitally archives languages spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.
  • Creates text, audio, and video corpora to support AI and NLP-based research on endangered languages.
• TRI-ECE (Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events) Scheme: Implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
  • Promotes AI-based translation tools for converting English and Hindi text and speech into tribal languages and vice versa.
  • Collaborates with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to ensure cultural sensitivity and community participation.
• NTM (National Translation Mission): A flagship program of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
  • NTM aims to translate knowledge and academic texts into Indian languages to democratize education and research.
• NMM (National Mission on Manuscripts): Run by the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
  • NMM works on preservation, digitization, and dissemination of ancient Indian manuscripts in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and regional languages.

What is the Broader Impact of Technology-Led Multilingual Platforms?

• Governance and Public Service Delivery: Multilingual AI platforms like Bhashini and GeMAI enable citizens to access government services, information, and digital portals in their own languages.
  • This enhances transparency, participation, and trust in governance, especially for people in rural and non-Hindi-speaking regions.
• Education and Skill Development: Platforms such as e-KUMBH, Anuvadini, and SWAYAM democratize learning by providing textbooks, technical content, and online courses in regional languages.
  • This supports the NEP 2020 vision of learning in the mother tongue, improves comprehension, and helps bridge the digital education divide.
• Cultural and Linguistic Preservation: Initiatives like SPPEL, Sanchika, and Adi-Vaani digitally document endangered and tribal languages, keeping oral traditions, stories, and knowledge systems alive.
  • They ensure that linguistic heritage evolves with technology rather than disappearing in its shadow.
• Economic and Social Inclusion: Language-inclusive digital platforms help local entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses interact with government schemes, e-commerce, and financial services more easily.
  • This reduces information barriers and fosters equitable participation in the digital economy.
• Research and Innovation: The large multilingual datasets created through these initiatives strengthen India’s AI research ecosystem and encourage the development of indigenous language technologies.
  

Conclusion

India’s language preservation efforts are driven by cutting-edge technologies to keep its linguistic heritage vibrant and accessible. Platforms like Bhashini, and BharatGen safeguard cultural diversity while driving inclusive digital growth and global leadership in multilingual innovation.

United Nations Convention against Cybercrime

29-10-2025

Source:IE

Why in News? 

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC), the world’s first global framework to tackle cybercrime, moved closer to becoming legally binding after 72 of 193 UN member states signed the treaty.

What is the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC)?

• About: The UNCC officially called the Convention on Cybercrime: Strengthening International Cooperation to Combat Crimes Committed Through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Systems, is the first international criminal justice treaty to have been negotiated in over 20 years.
  • The convention, developed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was adopted by consensus under UN General Assembly Resolution 79/243 in December 2024.
• Key Provisions: UNCC provides legal measures to address crimes committed via ICT systems.
  • It facilitates cross-border sharing of electronic evidence in serious crimes crimes such as illegal data interception, hacking, money laundering, and online child sexual abuse material.
  • The convention promotes capacity building and technical assistance for developing nations.
  • UNCC also includes human rights protections while enabling digital law enforcement.
• Implementation Mechanism: UNCC establishes a Conference of the States Parties to monitor and review implementation.
  • UNODC serves as the secretariat for the Convention, providing technical support, training, and assistance for national implementation, along with guidance through its Global Programme on Cybercrime.
  • States that did not sign may later accede by depositing an instrument of accession.
• India and UNCC:  India has not signed the UNCC as of October 2025, despite being an active participant in its drafting.
  • Earlier India also declined to sign the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, consistent with its approach of wanting a greater role in shaping global digital frameworks.

What is Cybercrime and Cybersecurity?

Cybercrime

• About: It refers to criminal activities that use or target digital technologies, networks, or devices.
  • Perpetrators range from individual hackers to organized criminal networks, exploiting the anonymity and reach of the internet.
  • These crimes transcend borders and can affect national security, financial systems, and personal safety.
  • Developing countries are especially vulnerable due to weak cybersecurity infrastructure and low awareness.
  • Emerging technologies like AI, deepfakes, and generative tools have created new risks around misinformation, privacy, and copyright infringement.
• Categories:
  • Cyber-enabled Crimes: Traditional crimes conducted online, such as fraud, trafficking, hate speech, and incitement to violence.
  • Cyber-dependent Crimes: Crimes that can occur only through ICT systems, including phishing, identity theft, malware attacks, and ransomware.
• Cybercrime Threat in India: Cybercrime cases rose by 31.2% in 2023, reaching 86,420 cases, up from 65,893 in 2022 (National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023). Karnataka recorded the highest number of cases.
  • Major cybercrimes include Fraud, Extortion, and Sexual exploitation.
  • India also faces cross-border scams from Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
  • Between January and May 2025, Indians lost over Rs 4,800 crore to foreign-based cyber frauds.

Cybersecurity

• About: Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft. It acts as a digital fortress, defending individuals and organizations against online attacks.
  • It includes strategies, policies, and technologies aimed at identifying and assessing threats, preventing and detecting cyberattacks, and mitigating harm while ensuring quick recovery from incidents.
  • A strong cybersecurity framework helps maintain privacy, trust, and data integrity in an increasingly interconnected world.

What are the Challenges and Opportunities for India Under the UN Cybercrime Convention?

Challenges

• Privacy Concerns: The Convention’s surveillance provisions may conflict with India’s constitutional right to privacy as highlighted in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017.
• Data Sovereignty Issues: India opposition to  data-sharing without prior written consent from the originating country may clash with the treaty’s cross-border data-sharing clauses.
• Strategic Caution: India’s hesitation to sign the treaty protects autonomy but risks limiting its influence in future digital rule-making.

Opportunities

• Stronger Global Cooperation: Enables India to work more closely with other countries on cybercrime investigations and evidence-sharing.
• Capacity Building Support: Offers access to UN-led training and technical aid to strengthen national cybercrime units.
• Policy Alignment: Could push India to update its National Cybersecurity Strategy and modernize data protection and cyber laws.

Conclusion

The UN Cybercrime Treaty marks a major step in global cybersecurity governance, aiming to ensure no country is left defenceless against cybercrime but it also raises critical questions about privacy, human rights, and digital sovereignty.
For India, the challenge lies in adopting a framework that strengthens cyber resilience without compromising individual freedoms.

PM SVANidhi 2.0

29-08-2025

Source: PIB

The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring and extension of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme, until 31st March 2030 with an aim to benefit 1.15 crore street vendors, including 50 lakh new beneficiaries.

• PM SVANidhi Scheme:  Launched by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2020. It aims to support street vendors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic by providing working capital loans to restart their businesses and promoting financial inclusion and digital transactions.
  • PM SVANidhi offers interest subsidy on timely loan repayment, cashback for digital transactions, and eligibility for enhanced next tranche of loans.
  • 'SVANidhi se Samriddhi' component under PM SVANidhi provides social security benefits to street vendors.
  • As of July 2025, over 96 lakh loans worth Rs 13,797 crore were disbursed to 68 lakh street vendors. 
  • The scheme won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2023) for innovation and the Silver Award for Government Process Re-engineering (2022) for digital transformation.
• PM SVANidhi 2.0: Implementation of the scheme would be the joint responsibility of MoHUA and Department of Financial Services (DFS).
  • Enhanced loan amounts across first and second tranches, providing greater working capital.
  • Provides UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card for vendors who have repaid the second loan, ensuring quick access to credit for business or personal needs.
  • Expanded coverage beyond statutory towns to census towns and peri-urban areas in a graded manner.
  • ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ initiative will be strengthened further through monthly Lok Kalyan Melas to ensure beneficiaries access multiple government schemes.
  • The scheme focuses on building vendors’ capacity in entrepreneurship, digital skills, and food safety in partnership with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

International Data Privacy Day

29-01-2026

Source: PIB  

Why in News? 

India observed International Data Privacy Day on 28th January, reaffirming its commitment to responsible data practices, public awareness, and trust-based digital governance amid the rapid expansion of digital platforms. 

• The day was designated in 2006 by the Council of Europe to commemorate the signing of the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108), the world’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection. 

What is Digital Footprint and How has the Indian Data Privacy Framework Evolved? 

• Digital Footprint:  It refers to the vast scale and depth of digital platforms that underpin governance, service delivery, and citizen participation across the country. 
  • India is the world’s third-largest digitalised economy, with 101.7 crore broadband users, ultra-low data costs of USD 0.10 per GB, and deep digital penetration across daily life, enabling mass digital inclusion at a population scale. 
  • Its Digital Public Infrastructure (including Aadhaar, UPI, MyGov and eSanjeevani (44+ crore digital health consultations) anchors participatory governance and large-scale service delivery. 
• Imperative for Data Privacy: The massive scale and sensitivity of personal data generated across these platforms heighten risks of data misuse, cyber threats, and privacy breaches. 
  • India is witnessing a surge in phishing, ransomware, identity theft, UPI and online banking frauds.  In 2024, the nation recorded 1.91 million cybercrime complaints, reflecting the scale of digital financial vulnerability. 
  • This makes privacy by design, strong legal frameworks, cybersecurity safeguards, and institutional accountability essential for sustaining public trust, inclusion, and secure digital governance. 
  • It builds public trust in government-led digital services, strengthens accountability and transparency, and ensures that digital innovation remains citizen-centric, ethical, inclusive, and non-exploitative. 

Indian Data Privacy Framework

• Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: Data protection in India governed by the  IT Act, 2000, the country’s core cyberspace law that provides legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures and enables e-governance and digital commerce. 
  • The IT Act, 2000, established CERT-In for cyber incident response, with key provisions supporting cybersecurity, adjudication, and content regulation. 
  • CERT-In is national nodal agency for cybersecurity with a vision of proactive prevention, incident response, and securing India’s communications & information infrastructure 
• IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (amended in 2025): Prescribe due diligence obligations for intermediaries, mandate time-bound grievance redressal, and aim to ensure a safe, transparent, and accountable online ecosystem aligned with India’s data security needs. 
  • Intermediaries are defined as entities that store or transmit data on behalf of others, including telecom and internet service providers, online marketplaces, search engines, and social media platforms. 
• Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023: The roots of this Act can be traced back to the 2017 Supreme Court ruling in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India, where the right to privacy was officially recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. Prior to this, India lacked a dedicated privacy law. 
  • The Supreme Court held that the right to privacy flows from Article 21 and the freedoms under Part III of the Constitution, and can be restricted only if state action satisfies a three-fold test (it must have legislative backing, pursue a legitimate state aim, and meet the proportionality standard as the least intrusive measure in a democratic society).  
  • DPDP Act, 2023, governs digital personal data processing, balancing individual privacy with lawful data use for innovation and growth, and follows a SARAL (Simple, Accessible, Rational, Actionable) compliance approach. 
  • The Data Protection Board of India was established under the DPDP Act, 2023 to oversee compliance, inquire into data breaches and enforce corrective action. It strengthens accountability, grievance redressal and public trust. 
  • The Act empowers individuals as Data Principals, granting clear rights and greater control over personal data while ensuring organisations act responsibly, transparently, and accountably. 
• Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025: The Rules operationalise the DPDP Act, 2023, establishing a citizen-centric data protection regime that safeguards personal data while enabling innovation and responsible use. 
  • Along with the DPDP Act, the Rules clearly define rights, responsibilities, and enforcement mechanisms, strengthen institutional accountability, and ensure secure, transparent, and future-ready digital governance in India. 

Data Privacy & Security Readiness Initiatives

What are the Key Challenges to Data Protection in India? 

• State Exemptions and Constitutional Imbalance: The DPDP Act, 2023, allows the State to exempt itself from core obligations without independent or judicial oversight. 
  • This creates an uneven privacy regime where citizens are protected from private actors but not from the government. Such asymmetry weakens the constitutional right to privacy under Article 21. 
• Executive-Controlled Regulator: The Data Protection Board is appointed and administered by the executive, which is itself the largest data fiduciary.  
  • This undermines regulatory independence and raises concerns of biased enforcement. Effective data protection requires an arm’s-length regulator, not executive supervision. 
• Penalties Without Victim Compensation: While the law imposes heavy fines on data fiduciaries, affected individuals have no direct right to compensation.  
  • Penalties flow to the State, not to victims, turning data protection into a revenue mechanism rather than a rights framework. 
  • Citizens must approach civil courts for compensation, making privacy protection inaccessible in practice. 
• AI and “Public Data” Grey Zones: The exemption of publicly available personal data creates ambiguity in AI training and data scraping.  
  • Personal information shared online can be reused without meaningful consent. This dilutes individual control in the age of generative AI and deepfakes. 
• Weak Remedies and Complex Grievance Redressal: The grievance mechanism is multi-layered, requiring citizens to approach the company, regulator, and tribunal sequentially.  
  • This complexity discourages ordinary users from pursuing privacy violations. Access to justice remains limited in practice. 
• Cybersecurity Capacity Deficit: Legal safeguards are undermined by weak cyber enforcement capacity and skill shortages.  
  • AI-enabled fraud, deepfakes, and social engineering exploit human trust rather than technical loopholes. Data protection without cyber capability remains largely symbolic. 

What Measures can Strengthen Data Protection in India? 

• Structural Independence of the Regulator: The Data Protection Board of India must function as an autonomous regulator rather than an executive body. Adopting a collegium-based appointment system would insulate it from political influence.  
  • Such institutional independence is essential for credible adjudication against the State, the largest data fiduciary. 
• Judicial Oversight for Government Exemptions: Introducing prior judicial or independent authorization for surveillance would prevent misuse. This ensures security concerns are balanced with constitutional privacy safeguards. 
• Victim-Centric Compensation Mechanism: Creating a dedicated Data Protection Compensation Fund from collected fines would enable swift victim compensation. Empowering the DPBI to grant ex-gratia relief would make privacy enforcement citizen-centric. 
• Promote Bilateral Data Agreements: Support bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate safe data exchange, rather than adopting restrictive or isolationist policies. 
• Privacy by Design for Consent Managers: Mandating open, interoperable, non-profit models (similar to Account Aggregators) would prevent manipulation and dark patterns. This ensures consent remains meaningful, informed, and user-driven.

Conclusion 

Data Privacy Day highlights trust and data protection as core to India’s digital ecosystem. With the DPDP framework and stronger cybersecurity institutions, India is building a secure digital future. It reinforces the shared responsibility of the State, platforms, and citizens in safeguarding digital rights. 

India’s Evolving Counterterror Response Since 26/11 Attacks

28-11-2025

Source: TH

Why in News? 

The President honoured the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 26/11 attack and urged everyone to renew their commitment to fight terrorism in all forms. 

• On 26^th November 2008, 10 armed terrorists linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried out coordinated strikes in Mumbai, leading to the tragic loss of 166 lives, including 18 security personnel, over a 60-hour ordeal.

What Major Reforms were Introduced in India’s Counter-terrorism Framework Following the 26/11 Attacks?

• Legal Reforms: The enacted National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 that established the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a federal body to investigate terror cases, overcoming inter-state coordination issues. 
  • The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) was amended to broaden the definition of a terrorist act.  
• Bolstering Intelligence: The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), established in 2010, serves as a key counter-terrorism initiative by creating a secure, integrated database that enables security agencies to share information and track suspects using data from multiple government sources.  
  • It further strengthened the national intelligence architecture by enhancing the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) to enable real-time information coordination.   
• Coastal Security Reinforcement: India implemented a multi-layered defense system, with the Indian Navy responsible for overall maritime security and the Indian Coast Guard managing territorial waters and coordinating with marine police stations.  
  • A Coastal Surveillance Network of radar sensors was also installed along the coastline to monitor vessel movement in real-time. 
• Modernization of Police and Special Forces: To ensure a faster response, many states created their own Special Forces, such as Force One in Maharashtra, while the NSG was decentralized with four regional hubs in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata for rapid, pan-India deployment. 
• Soft Target Protection: Security for major soft targets like hotels and airports was drastically upgraded with enhanced protocols, CCTV cameras, and access control. 
  • Simultaneously, India’s cyber security was strengthened by empowering CERT-In to counter digital threats.

Which Key Limitations Continue to Impede India’s Counter-terrorism Capabilities?

• Lack of a National Counter-Terrorism Doctrine: India still lacks a unified, long-term counter-terrorism doctrine, resulting in a predominantly reactive approach that intensifies only after major attacks.  
  • Without a clear strategic framework, policies tend to vary with political leadership, preventing a consistent and bipartisan national security approach. 
• Fragmented Intelligence Apparatus: A critical weakness is the persistent stove-piping of intelligence, where agencies like the IB, R&AW, and state police lack seamless integration, hindering the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC).  
  • The November 2025 Red Fort car blast exposed serious coordination gaps as earlier seizures of explosives by neighbouring states were not properly linked or shared.  
  • Critics argue that poor information integration at the MAC prevented timely action by the Delhi Police. 
• Legal and Judicial Lacunas: India's judicial process for terror cases remains hampered by weak prosecution, where shoddy investigation and witness intimidation often cause cases to collapse despite strong initial evidence. 
  • For instance, in July 2025, a special NIA court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, noting that the prosecution failed to prove the charges, giving the accused the benefit of doubt. 
• Technological Lacunas: Security agencies lack effective counter-narrative strategies against extremist propaganda and have uneven cyber forensics capabilities to track sophisticated online terror activities. 
  • Terror groups now use dead-drop methods (saving drafts in shared email accounts without sending them) and peer-to-peer crypto transfers to evade traditional surveillance, while intelligence agencies struggle with a shortage of cyber-intelligence analysts and linguistic experts needed to decode such encrypted communications. 
• Manpower & Capacity Crises: As of July 2025, the NIA faced a 28% staff shortage with 541 vacancies, leaving key operational posts, especially Inspectors and DSPs, undermanned and forcing reliance on deputation instead of a specialized cadre.  
  • State Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) units also remain under-equipped, lacking dedicated firing ranges, modern night-vision gear, and forensic labs, as repeatedly noted by CAG audits. 

What Measures can be Taken to Strengthen Counter-terrorism Efforts? 

• Deepen Tech Integration with MAC: Integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with the MAC data feeds.  
  • This can analyze vast amounts of intercepted data (chats, financial transactions, travel records) to identify patterns, predict potential attacks, and flag suspicious networks far more efficiently than human analysts alone. 
• Strengthen Police at the Last Mile: Since state police are the first responders, strengthening their capacity requires continuous funding for modern equipment, specialized counter-terrorism training, and seamless MAC/SMAC intel-sharing systems to ensure timely, actionable responses. 
• Strengthen Legal Provisions: Strengthening counter-terror justice requires fast-track courts to expedite trials that act as a deterrent, alongside regular review and amendment of laws like UAPA to address modern threats while ensuring safeguards. 
• Cripple Terror Financing: Strengthen the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to monitor hawala transactions, cryptocurrency payments, and shell companies funding terrorism, while enhancing international cooperation with FATF to target safe havens. 
• International Cooperation: Deepen intelligence sharing by enabling real-time, actionable exchanges with key partners like USA, Israel, France, and Gulf countries to disrupt plots from abroad. 
  • Apply diplomatic pressure through multilateral forums (UN, G20, BRICS, SCO) to isolate state-sponsors of terrorism, supported by initiatives like the "No Money for Terror" conferences.

Conclusion 

Future counter-terrorism strategies in India must build on post-26/11 reforms by addressing fragmented intelligence, judicial gaps, cyber threats, and manpower shortages. Emphasizing a unified doctrine, advanced technology integration, and stronger international cooperation will create a proactive, resilient, and coordinated counter-terrorism architecture.

Passive Euthanasia and the Right to Die with Dignity

28-11-2025

Source: IE

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has instructed a hospital to constitute a medical board to assess a petition seeking passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old individual who has remained in a “persistent vegetative state” for the past 12 years. 

• A Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) is a medical condition in which a person loses higher brain functions (like awareness, thinking, and purposeful movement) but retains basic bodily functions such as breathing, circulation, sleep–wake cycles, and reflexes.

What is Euthanasia? 

• About: Euthanasia refers to intentionally accelerating a person’s death to prevent further suffering from an incurable or terminal illness. It involves a painless, deliberate act aimed at relieving physical, emotional, or spiritual distress. It is of two types: 
  • Active Euthanasia: It involves deliberately ending a patient’s life. It can take different forms:  
    • Voluntary, where the patient consciously opts for death;  
    • Non-voluntary, where the decision is made for an incompetent patient; and  
    • Involuntary, where death is caused without consent (almost illegal in all countries). 
  • Passive Euthanasia: It allows a terminally ill patient to die naturally by withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment.  
    • This approach aims to uphold the right to die with dignity and prevent prolonged, futile suffering in irreversible medical conditions. 
• Legal Standing in India: 
  • Active Euthanasia: Indian law prohibits active euthanasia. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, categorizes any deliberate act causing death as an offense, prosecutable under its sections on culpable homicide (Section 100) or murder (Section 101). 
  • Passive Euthanasia: The Supreme Court (SC) has recognised passive euthanasia under certain restrictions, as long as it is in the best interests of the patient and follows the law. 
    • Article 21 guarantees that no one shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except by law, and the Supreme Court interprets it to include health, livelihood, privacy, shelter, and dignity, but it does not include the right to die, except under certain circumstances allowing a dignified death 
  • Law Commission Stand: The 241st Report of the Law Commission (2012) clarified that a competent patient can refuse life-sustaining treatment without legal consequences, and doctors acting according to the patient’s informed wishes are not guilty of abetment or culpable homicide. 
• Related Judicial Pronouncements:  
  • Maruti Shripati Dubal v. State of Maharashtra (1987): The Bombay High Court held that the right to die forms part of the right to life under Article 21, and that individuals who are terminally ill or experiencing severe pain should be allowed to choose to end their lives. 
  • Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (1996): The SC stated that the right to life does not include the right to die, emphasizing that life is a natural gift that should be preserved rather than terminated. 
  • Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India (2011): The SC allowed withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, even for patients who cannot make decisions but only under strict legal and medical safeguards. 
  • Common Cause v. Union of India (2018): The SC noted that active euthanasia (deliberate action to cause death) and passive euthanasia (withdrawing life-saving treatment) are distinct, stating that passive euthanasia may be permitted in rare cases.  
    • The Court established that a terminally ill patient has a fundamental right to die with dignity, which includes the right to refuse medical treatment through advance medical directives, known as living wills. 
• Supreme Court Directives on Euthanasia:  
  • Original 2018 Directives: The 2018 guidelines required a two-stage medical review: 
    • Primary Medical Board: Constituted by the hospital, including the Head of the treating department and at least 3 specialists from general medicine, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, psychiatry, or oncology, each with 20 years of experience. 
    • Secondary Medical Board: Appointed by the district collector, including the Chief District Medical Officer as Chairman and three expert doctors from the same fields. 
  • 2023 Modifications: The Supreme Court retained both boards but reduced the experience requirement from 20 years to five and set a 48-hour time limit for opinions.  
    • The secondary board now excludes the Chief District Medical Officer, allows a nominee by the District Medical Officer, and both boards have three members each. 
• Global Position on Euthanasia: Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide for anyone experiencing unbearable suffering with no chance of improvement.  
  • Switzerland permits non-physicians to help the terminally ill commit suicide, though active euthanasia is illegal.  
  • Australia also allows both types, limited to adults with full decision-making capacity who have a terminal illness. 
  • These global variations highlight how euthanasia remains ultimately an ethical question, shaped less by medical capacity and more by each society’s moral principles, values, and philosophical traditions.